Halo: Combat Evolved is the final Holiday Deal of the Week on the Xbox Live Marketplace. The game can be downloaded by those using an Xbox 360 for 600 Microsoft Points, which is about 7.50 dollars, or half of the normal price for the first person shooter and the standard price for all titles released under the Xbox Originals label. The new price should be introduced sometime today and the deal will last for one week, until December 30. Microsoft has not announced whether the initiative of offering one title at a reduced price would be continued in 2009.

The Holiday Deal of the Week was introduced in December by Microsoft and the first piece of content offered was the Legendary Map Pack for Halo 3, available for a week at the reduced price of 400 Microsoft Points. So, all that begins with Halo, ends with Halo. A Foo Fighters album and a Bomberman remake were also offered at reduced prices as December dragged on.

Halo: Combat Evolved was one of the flagship titles designed to attract the interest of gamers as the original Xbox gaming console was launching. It is still considered to be one of the best games for the console, even if it was originally released way back in 2001. The game, developed by Bungie, was successful enough to spawn a franchise including two more first person shooters and a soon to be released real time strategy title, Halo Wars. A new first person shooter set in the same universe will be launched by Microsoft sometime in 2009.

The Redmond giant should take the step of making the various price cuts it applies for limited periods permanent. After all, boxed copies of the first Halo can be obtained for lower prices on Amazon and from second hand gaming stores. Microsoft could make some money if the price went permanently to 7.50 dollars and more gamers could get a chance to play this classic shooter.